Winning the Wall Battle: Tips & Tools for Wingers to Handle a Rimmed Puck

Kevin Geist
4 days ago
3 min read

For wingers, few plays are as common—and as important—as handling a

rimmed puck along the boards. Whether it’s a breakout pass from your defenseman or a hard rim from the opposing team, mastering how to handle pucks off the wall separates reliable players from turnover machines. It’s a subtle but vital skill that can turn a defensive zone scramble into a clean exit or a neutral zone turnover into an offensive opportunity.

Here are some key tips and tools every winger should use to handle rimmed pucks with confidence.

1. Shoulder Check Early

Before the puck even gets near you, take a quick look over both shoulders. You need to know:

How much time and space you have
Where your support options are (center low, D as a release, weak-side winger)
If you’re about to be pressured

A good shoulder check gives you a read so you can make your next decision instantly—whether that’s chipping, bumping, or pulling the puck off the wall and moving it.

2. Use Your Body to Shield the Puck

When the puck is rimmed hard, use your body positioning to protect it:

Get your inside shoulder toward the defender
Keep your stick on the boards and knees bent for balance
Absorb the puck into your feet or stick blade, then angle your hips to seal the wall

Strong posture and balance are everything—your body becomes the barrier that buys you an extra second to make a play.

3. Develop Soft Hands for Wall Retrievals

Not every rim will bounce perfectly. You’ll need soft hands to cushion the puck and settle it quickly. Work on:

Catching pucks off the boards during practices or at home using a rebounder or synthetic tiles
Stickhandling tight in small spaces along a wall or net area
Backhand touch receptions, since a lot of wall plays happen on your weak side

The best wingers can absorb a rim and instantly turn it into a controlled play instead of just a chip out.

4. Learn the Escape Options

A smart winger always has an exit plan. Common options include:

Chip & Chase: When under pressure, angle the puck past the defenseman and go retrieve it
Middle Pop: Tap the puck to your supporting center in the middle of the ice
Reverse Bump: Use the boards to rim it back to your defenseman or center support
Wall Cut: Pull the puck off the boards, cut toward the middle, and attack open ice

Knowing your system’s breakouts—like “wheel,” “reverse,” or “up”—will help you make the right read instantly.

5. Use Tools to Improve

You can train rim-puck handling even off the ice.

Stickhandling Balls & Puck Rebounders: Great for working on quick touches and wall control.
Synthetic Ice or Shooting Pads: Practice rim retrievals at home by bouncing pucks off a wall or board.
Balance Boards & Resistance Bands: Build lower-body strength and core control to stay strong on the wall.
Video Analysis: Watch how pros like Nikita Kucherov or Matthew Tkachuk receive pucks off the wall—they’re elite at protecting and transitioning quickly.

6. Stay Calm Under Pressure

Finally, confidence is key. The boards can feel chaotic when forecheckers close fast, but staying composed lets you execute the right play instead of just reacting. Trust your reads, protect the puck, and make the smart play—not the rushed one.

Final Thoughts

Handling rimmed pucks is a detail that separates average wingers from dependable ones. When you can consistently control pucks off the wall, your team exits cleaner, creates more rush chances, and spends less time defending. So next practice, focus on the fundamentals: check early, protect the puck, stay balanced, and use your options.

Winning the wall isn’t flashy—but it’s how winning hockey gets played.